Ethan Nwaneri starts his Marseille fightback

Robin Bairner

2 Mar 2026 11:42 GMT
5 min read

Ethan Nwaneri, Marseille, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Ethan Nwaneri’s loan move to Marseille from Arsenal has gone sour, but the 18-year-old has started his fightback.

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When Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked about the complications of Nwaneri’s January switch to Marseille last week, he may as well have shrugged his shoulders.

There’s no doubt that the deal has not panned out the way that either he or the Gunners’ promising midfield talent would have wished.

Current ETV

Ethan Nwaneri

M (C), F (R)

Marseille

Ethan Nwaneri

M (C), F (R)

Marseille

ETV Range

€48.4M - €59.2M

Arsenal’s De Zerbi wish implodes

Arteta was open about his desire for Nwaneri to work under Roberto De Zerbi at Marseille, even going so far as to say it was one of the primary drivers behind the decision to send the 18-year-old to France.

When Nwaneri started in dazzling fashion on debut, scoring in a 3-1 win over high-flying Lens, it seemed a successful partnership had been set up.

Then Marseille, as they have a tendency to do, imploded.

Days later, Nwaneri was on the bench as OM crashed out of the Champions League in a humiliating fashion against Club Brugge. It sent De Zerbi’s time at Stade Velodrome into a death spiral.

“It’s unfortunate, but ultimately we have to make decisions at the time, understanding the context around them,” Arteta said. “The best decision for the club and for Ethan, was for him to go and experience a different environment, play some minutes and come back to us.”

Habib Beye, a former Newcastle defender who became France’s answer to Gary Neville as a television pundit, has since taken command. In both matches, Nwaneri has had to settle for a spot on the bench.

All that, though, could be about to change.

Nwaneri decisive against Lyon

Following weeks of frustration, the England U21 star was decisive for Marseille in a vital clash against Lyon on Sunday. He arrived on the field with 27 minutes remaining and departed it having set up former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score the winning goal in a 3-2 thriller.

It was no small contribution, either. Bursting down the left of the box, he delivered a perfect low cross that Aubameyang slid in to score.

Nwaneri can still benefit from Marseille loan

This was the first evidence that Nwaneri can thrive under Beye as he might have done under De Zerbi.

Robert Pires, a legendary figure at Arsenal, predicted this turnaround in an interview with La Provence.

“He’ll be a good player,” Pires said on Nwaneri (via Foot01). “It’s not easy for him, but the English don’t fear anything. I’m not worried about him – he’s got Mason Greenwood beside him.

© IMAGO - Marseille players crowd Ethan Nwaneri after he set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's winner against Lyon

“What’s also good for him is that Habib Beye speaks very good English.

“Little Ethan is good technically and can make thinks happen. In the next three months, Habib can give him something. And vice-versa.”

Nwaneri is starting to come good on this promise, and if he continues to show such fearlessness on the bench, it’s a matter of time before he’s called upon to start more regularly.

He may not return to Arsenal with the tactical education that Arteta had wished, but on a mental level, he may well emerge a tougher competitor than ever thanks to this rollercoaster Marseille experience.

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